Ivar's Salmon House?!
Answers: i have a school project to go to an authentic totem pole, take a picture with it, and write about its history. Does anyone know if the ivars salmon house's totem pole is real? and no, i dont have photoshop
Go to an Indian Reservation, round house and you will find plenty. Toppenish WA, Colville, WA
Seattle restaurateur Ivar Haglund opens Salmon House in 1969.
In 1969, Ivar Haglund (1905-1985), the Seattle restaurateur known as "King of the Waterfront," opens the Salmon House Restaurant at the north end of Lake Union.
Haglund at first planned a floating restaurant on the site of the old Wayland Mill on the north side of Lake Union, but permit problems and the fact that floating restaurants in Seattle tended to sink, compelled him to consider a shore-based operation.
He received inspiration from the design and operation of a Native American lodge near Poulsbo where large groups of people were served salmon cooked over an alderwood fire. He planned a similar structure with a simplified menu consisting of a few salmon dishes prepared over a central fire and served on paper plates. There would be no liquor and no other food items offered. Haglund researched Puget Sound tribal cultures and he acquired artifacts and wood carvings to decorate his Salmon House.
Haglund tried out this novel approach on 200 Chamber of Commerce visitors who arrived on the excursion vessel Virginia V. Passengers gathered around an alderwood fire, but complications developed. Wet wood combined with a poorly placed ceiling fan forced hungry guests out of the building, gasping for air and reeking of smoke. After switching to dry wood and a new fan, Haglund opened for business, but the simple presentation did not succeed.
The Salmon House closed for six months and when it reopened it was a full-service restaurant.
Ivar’s Salmon House (Wallingford) No 407 - Totem Pole
Type: Lounge
Class: Midscale
I was not thrilled with having to come out to the “middle of nowhere” while still remaining in Seattle. Sitting on the edge of Lake Washington, down the road from Gas Works park is another of Ivar’s restaurants. At least it is not named Ivar’s Leagues of Salmon. That I just could not take it.
This “theme” restaurant has a large totem pole outside, is built as if it were a log cabin and has a full on Indian Salmon theme. All of the salmon are stylized in the ancient Indian tradition, I assume.
The most important thing about this Ivar’s is that they have a daily special with good booze for $3.50. Today it was an Absolut screwdriver. We both had one. Some days it is a Martini, others a Mai Thai. Whatever it is, $3.50 sounds good to me.
Our service was slow, despite the large number of staff running past our table constantly. Eventually we were taken care of, but once we waived away menus we pretty much ceased to exist, thus forcing me to stalk our waitress to get a check.
I had a nasty encounter on the way to the bathroom. After winding the long way through the restaurant, only to find myself back at the main lobby, I ran smack dab into 14 teenage girls singing Christmas carols. At least it was some sort of semi religious Christmas based schlock and like a vampire fleeing garlic I was forced to flee in terror and cower back at my table. I could only hope that they would be gone when it came time for us to leave.
I give Ivar’s 2 Martini glasses out of 5 and that is only for the good drink special.
Ivar's Salmon House on Lake Union (401 NE Northlake Way--632-0767) is built 'after the fashion' of a cedar Long House and is a showplace of Indian wooden art and totem poles. You feel wrapped in cedar inside, and the walls are cluttered with carvings and plaques. The cuisine is also Indian-like, featuring salmon, rice and cornbread.